Water Borne Diseases – Causes And Prevention

Why do most people prefer ‘bottled water’ instead of ‘regular water’? Not because they’re trying to be posh, but they’re trying to steer clear of water-borne diseases especially during the monsoons.

One of the major reasons why unfiltered or water from outside is not safe is because of the countless pathogens present in the water and you will not even know if the water you are drinking is harmful or not, unless and until you get affected by various water-borne diseases.

What are water-borne diseases and how is it caused?

The diseases which occur due to the various harmful bacteria, virus or even pollutants present in the water which you drink, are called water-borne diseases. Do you know that the most common waterborne disease in India is Diarrhoea? This is a condition which most of you face at some time of your life and very frequently. Every kind of bacteria, viruses or even harmful pathogens along with chemical pollutant are not visible to your naked eye. Due to this, you do not even realise that the water you might be drinking just to quench your thirst, is actually eventually going to harm your body. Apart from diarrhoea, malaria and cholera are the other two common waterborne diseases.

What are the types of waterborne diseases?

There are many types of diseases which originate in the water you drink. In the urban parts of the country, there is still availability of clean drinking water but when it comes to the rural parts, clean drinking water is scarce and hence the number of people affected by these various waterborne diseases is more when compared. But in many cities, it has been found that due to the lack of water treatment facilities, the water which is given to the homes of people, is unsafe.

Here are some of the diseases which are caused by water:

Cholera:

The condition of cholera, is caused by the bacteria called cholera bacterium which is often found in food and mainly in water. Cholera is a disease which causes severe diarrhoea to whoever is affected by it. Cholera is treatable but if not diagnosed in time, it can be fatal. Symptoms of cholera are fever, diarrhoea and cramps in the stomach.

Typhoid:

Typhoid is a disease which is caused by drinking water which is contaminated with the ‘salmonella typhi’ bacteria. The symptoms for typhoid are fever which is chronic, headaches, loss of appetite, constipation and nausea. It can be communicated through the water you drink and it can also be transmitted by being in close contact with a person who is affected by it.

Diarrhoea:

One of the most common waterborne diseases is diarrhoea and it mainly affects children under the age of 5. The infection spreads through having contaminated food and drinking water which is not treated. The symptoms of diarrhea are dehydration, dizziness, loss of consciousness at times, pale skin and bloody stool. Severe diarrhea can last up to 2 weeks resulting in severe dehydration and if left untreated, it can be fatal.

How can waterborne diseases be prevented?

There are many steps you can take for the prevention of these various diseases which originate in the water you drink or even the food you eat.

The ways by which it can be prevented are:

Make sure that you follow the ideal hygiene wherever you go and also keep yourself clean.

You should avoid eating outside food as much as possible as the foods might contain various kinds of bacteria or the water which is used to make the food, might be affected.

You must ensure that the food is always kept covered and this might restrict pathogens from contaminating the food.

Lastly, you have to make sure that you drink 100% pure and fresh water and that is only possible only when you use a filter or a purifier for the water you receive at home. If you think, you might have some of the symptoms which these disease showcase, visit us at Medisys Hospitals so that our doctors can help treating it and preventing it from happening again.

About the Hospital

Medisys Hospitals is a growing super speciality hospital in Hyderabad that represents the vision and mission of a group of highly qualified and experienced veteran medical professionals. Started in June 2016, it is a 200-bedded hospital with all medical and surgical specialities available. We rely on our in-house state-of-the-art diagnostic and therapeutic possibilities to provide high level care for our patients.

Vara Lakshmi

Shravan Kumar

Welcome to medisys

Welcome to Medisys Hospitals, a growing super speciality hospital in Hyderabad that represents the vision and mission of a group of highly qualified and experienced veteran medical professionals. Started in June 2016, Medisys is a 200-bedded full-fledged medical facility with all medical and surgical speciality services available.